Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-09


that even the money levied and collected from the
people here shall be expended for their benefit.
the subject insist that to- only va" certain per-
annually shall be expended for the public benefiL
them at all. They insist that surplus shall re-
main over each year. This year that surplus will
amount to 100000. Now the Senate is willing
that all the money raised by laXatiOn-all the Dis
trict revenueS-ShaO be annually expended in
keeping pace with
THE GROWTH OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
''The House demands that there must be mar
gin left over each year to 60 into the Treasury.
But even II the Senate plan could be carried out,
and all the money raised each year could be de-
voted to the public benefit, there would still be a
large deficiency in the item Of street improve
ments As stated at the outset, more streets are
opened each year than can be improved at the
present rate OF taxation or with the revenue raised
In the District. 1t is true this constant increase
OF streets Is in the suburbs beyond the Boundary;
resents the city's growth. As fast as
tracts Of lands are plated into lots they
part OF the city proper: And this change is very
rapid. Individuals and syndicates purchase OUT
lying lands and convert them into lots. The fact
that they do SO is an tnfalnble evidence of the
city's prosperity. To say nothing OF the rights
that investors in property who design iJ as an en-
largement OF the city may have it is paying In
vesument TO contribute all that is possible TO the
development Of such property, for when It Is
plated into lots the taxation increases from to
La CcIl, anu IuuCu Vi IL GudI udS UCtu 9QOpQ
TO taxation in the last few years has increased
from assessment by the acre to an assessment
OF Is per cent on its appraised value. so that as
pure business investment II Is good policy TO
IMPROVE THE STREETS
adjacent to this continual addition of suburban
property. Any man or set of men In the possess
sion Of practical business sense would make the
outlay for streets to reap the pecun1ary reward
that would follow. But, In addition to the In
crease in the assessed valuation OF the property,
Suburban additions: Fine residences are erected
and the beauty OF the city Is enhanced. Business
men who have acquired ample fortunes are at
vestments, all Of which go to build up the prop
erty OF Washington. Now it is the suburban
property that is suffering most. It's without gas,
are all mud in wet weather and all dust
in dry, weather. Now. unless this is
Tsmee@ With and the the city
remarkable growth OF Washington will meet with
a sudden check. People not coming here to In
vest money to be denied the conyeniences OF water
other necessity OF passabIe streets. This improve
ment Of Washington by the Influx OF capital will
stop unless the District authorities can contribute
their share towards maintaining the cty's growth.
One OF the House conferees in discussing this ques
with us said there was no necessity for devel-
opng the suburbs; that there was ample room
within the city limits for growth, and that people
should be compelled to Improve the unimprOved
property within the Boundary That's new idea,
and any authority that seeks to restrict it given
limits viii only drive 1t away. l maintain that
we should encourage this suburban growth. In the
course OF a few years the maximum area of i'm
prOvement will be reached, and then the fling-up
process Will begin Then the inside property will
build up and improve. In pursuing this plan we
continually increase the taxable area and add to
the District revenues.
INCREASE OF TAXATION.
"Eow," continued the Senator, "from the expe-
rience have had with this subject, maintain
ho rhoc
by not providing adequately for their improve
ment, or supply funds sufficient to construct good
streets. The present revenues will not do this;
hence, the necessary funds must be raised either
by the issuing OF bonds or by increasing the rate
OF taxation. The policy OF issuing bonds does not
meet with favor; 1t Is regarded as Objectionable
because 1t would or might tend to extravaganza.
Congress is not likely to authorize the issuance or
bonds don't think measure OF that kind could
taxation be Increased from IL to per cent tor
several years. Such an increase would yield
about 81 ,25O, 600 per annum, and that amount APP
piled to street improvements for five years would
be ample for all purposes Then at the expira-
| tion OF the tive years, or possibly three years,
might be long enough, the rate Of taxation could
be restored to its present figure of one and onehaf
per cent. That plan would supply the money
gradually and it would be expended year by year.
session OF large sum In hand at one time might
lead to- the present scale Of street improvement
| Is kept up 1t Is only question OF time until the
suburban streets become absolutely impossible.
Unless something is done to remedy the evil the
boom in suburban real estate will collapse very sud-
denly one OF these days. People will not come here
buy splendid sites outside the city, and erect ee-
CANT and costly residences, to drive through the
| mud to and from the city. Mind you, don't ad-
vOcate the plan 1 mention; only suggest 1t as
one way to provide money for the necessary street
improvements II the people of Washington would
sustain the District authorities, instead OF de-
nOuncing and opposing them, they would accom-
p1sh great deal more In the way OF the advance
ment OF public interests here. II they would hold
up the hands OF the Commissioners before Con.
greSS, they would find Congress ready to do more.
THESE CITIZEN COMMITTEES
are not organized to do anything for the District
They are got up only to quarrel with somebody.
Not long ago the chairman OF one OF these CON-
n,ittees declared that he was opposed to the Com
mlss1onerS; that they were nOn-resdents, and did
not represent the people here He said his COM
nfttee would ignore the Commissioners and 60
direct to Congress for what it wants. That is not
| the way to proceed. The citizens should act in
accord with the Commissioners It's true the lat
| ter may not always be right. They, no doubt,
make mistakes, but they are the constituted au-
thorltleS, and the people here cannot accomplish
| anything by breaking them down.
"Ihe people here are always divided into fac
ClonS ana Quarreling with each other about public
measures and pubic improvements. II they 90
ON In this way, after awhile the District will be-
come the aversion Of everybody, and nobody win
WanI 10 listen to the constant chickering's and fac
N S4rHr&r